Fire and Garden

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

Fire and Garden

When the fire of rage screams madly its din,
consuming its fuel of angry chagrin
and tempts you to drink from the poison of sin
then gaze at the Fire and the Garden within.

Feel how revenge and contempt fan its flame,
how it explodes and then spits out its shame,
how choking its smoke, how burning its blame,
how scorching its sneer as it plays Satan’s game.

Then surrender prostrate and feel how its coal
sputters, then whispers, then gives up its goal.
Its ashes turn green as you hear them extol
praises and hymns from the depths of your soul.

Gratitude, too, as it sings like a bird,
praises and worships for what He conferred
of blessings untold, of favors unheard,
of freedom from fire wherein it interred.

Contentment and joy and Almighty Power
nourish and cool what fires devour,
like rivers of milk, like merciful shower,
turn fragrant its ashes with beautiful flower.

Orchards of love drink rain from the sky
Shady and lush, expansive and high.
Gone are the tight-fisted tantrums of “my”.
Beginningless Beauty extinguishes “I”.

The Fire of Hell is kindled by you
within you, without you, around you, and through.
You light it in This Life, then it blazes anew
forever in Next Life, for you let it brew.

Surrender your nafs, for eternity pine.
Water your flower and tend to your vine.
Your worshipful heart will joyfully shine
with pleasure on earth, then pleasure divine.

– Hamza Karamali, November 5, 2009